Image Alt Text

The image in Figure 1 visually describes the area in a Word document from which to find the Check Accessibility feature. Add an alternative description – called alt text -- so the image conveys the same information audibly as it does visually.

Alt text for this image might be “Find the Check Accessibility tool from the File tab in the Check for Issues section”.

Microsoft Word Screenshot of the Home Screen with the Check for Issues drop-down button highlighted and Check Accessibility selected within this menu
Figure 1

 

The banner image in Figure 2 is purely decorative – there is no value to a visually impaired person in knowing there is a photo of an eagle, a flute player, and a rainbow at the top of the page. This is a Decorative Image.

Example of a Decorative Banner Image with a Bald Eagle, Native American and waterfront landscape with a rainbow
Figure 2

 

Add alt text to images in Canvas

Use Canvas’s Rich Content Editor to add an image to a page. Select the Embed Image icon (Figure 3).

Canvas Screenshot of the Embed Image button in the Rich Text Editor
Figure 3

 

The Insert / Edit Image dialog box appears (Figure 4).

Canvas Insert Edit Image dialog box pointing to the URL tab and the Alt text field and Decorative Image checkbox highlighted
Figure 4

 

Choose the URL tab in the Image Source section. Add Alt text or select Decorative Image in the Attributes section.

 

Contributed by Cheryl Ryan, Instructional Media Designer at NIC's eLearning Department.

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